Millions of Koreans trace their origins to Suriratna, a princess from Ayodhya who had married the Korean king Kim Suro, a diplomat from the country said, adding that a memorial to the princess would soon be upgraded.

North Korea responded angrily today to reports in the South Korean media about a recent spate of high-level defections and executions, calling them Nazi-style propaganda aimed at tarnishing Pyongyang's image.

The Korean Air chief steward ejected from a flight by a senior airline executive in a now infamous "nut rage" incident, has had his industrial injury claim approved by a state agency, officials said today.

Japan today celebrated the inscription of Meiji-era industrial sites on UNESCO's World Heritage list, despite initial opposition from Seoul over the use of forced Korean labourers in the early 20th century.

South Korea reported no new cases of MERS or deaths from the virus for the first time in nine days today, but officials warned there was no indication yet that the outbreak had been brought under control.

Thousands marched through central Seoul today in what organisers described as South Korea's biggest annual gay pride parade, with many celebrating the US Supreme Court's historic decision allowing same-sex couples nationwide to wed.

South Korea has introduced a new law designed to curb a MERS outbreak, tightening quarantine restrictions and imposing jail sentences on those who defy anti-infection measures in a crisis that has now left 31 dead.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights met with three ageing "comfort women" on a visit to Seoul on Wednesday and promised to continue advocating on behalf of South Korean victims of Japan's wartime system of sex slavery.

The United Nations has opened a new office in Seoul to monitor North Korea's human rights record, prompting a warning from Pyongyang of 'resolute toughest' action against what it termed a grave provocation.

South Korea today announced its 20th death from the MERS virus as criticism grew of efforts to contain the outbreak, with alarming reports of new cases slipping through a quarantine that already affects thousands.

South Korea today reported the 16th death in an expanding MERS outbreak and announced financial aid to the tourism industry, warning earnings could be slashed by up to $2.3 billion as thousands cancel travel plans.